MARSHFIELD – In September 1976, the North Wood County Historical Society took a decisive step toward preserving one of Marshfield’s most significant historic homes.
After negotiations dating back to April 1975, the Society signed an option on September 28 to purchase the former home of Wisconsin Governor William Henry Upham.
Funds for the purchase itself had been committed by private donors, but acquiring the property was only the beginning.
Before exercising the option, Society president Dennis Nelson explained that several important questions had to be answered.
The Society needed firm estimates for renovating the mansion, a commitment of assistance from the City of Marshfield, and evidence that the community truly supported preserving the property.
Restoration was estimated at approximately $60,000 to $65,000.
The Society quickly went to work. It sought restoration bids, appealed for broad public participation, and invited city officials to tour the mansion.
The October tour helped demonstrate both the possibilities and the challenges.
The heating system represented the largest anticipated expense, while repairs to portions of the ceiling, foundation, chimney and porch were also identified, along with the need for an accessible entrance.
Throughout the effort, the Society stressed that success could not depend upon a handful of generous donors.
Preserving the Upham Home would require community participation through both financial contributions and volunteer effort.
The foundation providing the purchase funds likewise required evidence of broad-based support and assistance from the city for renovation and operation.
By December, those efforts had produced results.
The city had agreed to provide $10,000 annually for two years, local donors had contributed, and more than $45,000 of the approximately $60,000 needed for renovation had been raised.
On December 7, Dennis Nelson announced that the mansion was expected to become Society property within the following week, bringing the nearly two-year pursuit of the home to its culmination
But preservation of the house was never the final goal. The Society envisioned an “active, useable museum.”
Some rooms would be restored to reflect the Upham era, while other rooms would display artifacts, documents and relics telling the broader history of the area.
The museum was also envisioned as an educational resource for schoolchildren and a place where longtime residents, newcomers and visitors could discover the community’s heritage.
What began with an option to purchase in September 1976 became, by December, the realization of an ambitious community preservation effort and the beginning of a new chapter for the North Wood County Historical Society.
Nearly fifty years later, that vision continues to be realized.
The Upham House welcomes more than 2,000 visitors annually, while the North Wood County Historical Society’s community outreach reaches another 2,000 people each year.
Beyond the museum walls, the Society’s online sharing of local history attracts more than 500,000 views yearly, extending Marshfield’s stories to an audience far beyond the community.
Together, the historic home, its collections, educational programs, outreach activities, and growing digital presence demonstrate the important role the Society continues to play in preserving, interpreting, and sharing our community’s historical heritage for present and future generations.
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